Slab thrower



April 2,

Filed Nov.

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SLAB THROWER A Filed Nov. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

.2' Harre/ E/-luch/hson IN VEN TOR.

April 2, 1957 H. E. HUTcl-nNsoN 2,787,365

SLAB THROWER Filed Nov. 15, 195,3 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

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April 2, 1957 H. E. HUTcHlNsoN 2,787,365

-SLAB THROWER Filed Nov. l5., 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Harre/ E. Hurch/nsonIN VENTOR.

MWW-mm United States Patent() F SLAB TI-IROWER Harrel E. Hutchinson,Myrtle Point, Oreg., assignor of one-half to Henry C. Rowell, MyrtlePoint, Oreg.

Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,829

11 Claims. (Cl. 198-128) This invention relates to a portable slabthrower adapted to be utilized in conjunction with stationary orportable saw mills to dispose of waste slabs in such manner that theslabs will be thrown a considerable distance from the milling operationso as to eliminate the necessity of the slabs being burned during theseasons when statutes prohibit the burning of slabs.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of aportable apparatus which is adapted to receive slabs coming from themill and to forcefully project the slabs away from the mill site wherebythe slabs will be` deposited a considerable distance from the mill site.

The construction of this invention features an open top trough-likehousing which has the feed conveyor adapted to receive slabs from themill. This feed conveyor carries the slabs onto a drum having teethltherein which teeth are designed to both lift the slabs and to catchthe rear portions of the slabs so as to forcefully eject the slabs intothe air and throw them a considerable distance. There is also providedan alignment and discharge conveyor which acts `in conjunction with thedrum to aid in the ejection of the slabs while providing means forholding the slabs in `alignment with the drum so that the slabs may bemore forcefully ejected.

Two forms of the invention are to be hence forth disclosed, one of whichutilizes a guide conveyor which is adapted to aid in the guiding of theslabs into engagement with the drum. Another of the forms of theinvention includes a guide plate positioned beneath the feedconveyor andto the rearward of the drum.

Still further objects and features of this invention resides in theprovision of a slab thrower that is strong and durable, simple inconstruction and operation, capable of being transported from one sawmill site to another, as may be necessary, and which is comparativelyinexpensive to construct thereby enabling wide use of such device.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds are attained by this slab thrower, preferred embodiments ofwhich have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way ofexample only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of lthe slab thrower comprising the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a rear eleva-tional view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a front elevational View of the slab thrower;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the slab thrower illustrating inparticular, the motor which provides the means for driving the variouselements of the slab thrower;

Figure 5 is another side elevational view looking at the other side ofthe slab thrower than that shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 6 6in Figure 5 and illustrating in particular, the construction of the belttightener utilized in maintaining the belt drive means taut;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line7--7 in Figure l and illustrating the internal arrangement of parts ofone form of the inventionyand 2,787,365 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 Figure 8is a sectional detail view similar to that of Figure 7 but illustratinga modified form of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designa-te similar parts throughout the variousviews, reference numeral 10 generally designates a first form of slabthrower which is illustrated in Figures 1 through 7. The slab thrower 10includes a housing 12 which is open at the top and which has attachedthereto outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide ange 14 and 16.The housing 12 may be constructed from plates attached to an angle orchannel iron framework and may be suitably braced as may be desirable asat 18. A pair of channel iron longitudinal support members 20 areprovided for supporting the housing and for providing means whereby theentire slab thrower can be moved to properly adjust the slab thrower insitu. A platform 22 is connected to the housing for supporting a motor24 which provides the motor power Vfor the apparatus. Obviously, themotor 24 can be of the internal combustion type such as gasoline ordiesel powered or may be steam or electric powered.

Suitably journaled on brackets secured to the housing 12 are a pair ofshafts 26 and 28 carrying cylindrical drums 30 and 32 about which anendless belt substantially horizontal feed conveyor 34 is entrained. Thefeed conveyor 34 is positioned at such height where it can be properly`aligned with a conveyor as at 36 leading from the saw mill for deliveryof slabs thereto. Mounted on the shaft 28 is a pulley 38.

Mounted on a shaft 40 journaled in the bearings mounted on the housingis a drum42 of comparatively rigid construction which has a plurali-tyof teeth 44 which are arranged in staggered rows that are angularlyspaced along the periphery of the drum 42 `and which are ofsubstantially triangular shape. The shaft 40 and the drum 42 is drivenby the motor 24 by means of an endless belt 46 entrained about a pulleywheel 48 mounted on the shaft '40 and a pulley wheel 50 mounted on thestub shaft of the motor 24. It is to be noted that the shaft 40cornprises the drive shaft of the drive means for the endless beltconveyor 34 and for the endless belt discharge conveyor 52 mounted atthe forward discharge end of the housing 12 are about drums 54 and 56mounted on shaft 58 and 60, respectively. The shafts S8 and 60 aresuitably journaled in bearings carried by brackets attached to thehousing of suitable construction. It is to be noted that the conveyor 52is positioned in front of and extends upwardly and forwardly from thedrum 42 so that it may both aid in the discharge of the slabs whilemaintaining the slabs in proper lalignment so that the teeth 44 canengage the rear ends of the slabs to impart enough force thereon toimpel the slabs a considerable distance from the slab thrower 10.

The shaft 60 has mounted thereon a pulley 62. Mounted on the shaft 40 isa set of pulleys 64. Entrained about the pulleys 62 and 64 is an endlessbelt 66 and another endless belt 68 is likewise entrained about thepulleys 38 and 64 to impart motion to the shafts 60 and 28,respectively. A generally V-shaped wire mesh cage 70 is positioned onthe outside of the housing 12 over the respective pulleys and belts forprotective purposes. It is noted that the drive means for the slabthrower are generally mounted outwardly of the housing 12, thiscomprising an important part of the invention since it protects theworking parts thereof.

Mounted on a pair of supports 72 is an upwardly and forwardly extendingguide plate or platform 74 which is positioned to the rear of the drum42 and extends below the feed conveyor 34. In lieu of the guide plate74, there is shown in Figure 8 a modified form of the invention whichincludes a rearwardly feeding guide conveyor 76 mounted on drums 78'and80, the guide conveyor being positioned below and tothe rear of the drum42 and being below the feed conveyor 34. j

It is to be noted :that the belt 46 is encased in a wire mesh guard, asat 82.

In either the embodimentas. Shown iu Figures l through 7 or theembodiment as is shown in Figure 8, there may be utilized a plurality offingers formed of rods, as indicated at 84 and attached to a mountingplate 86 held in alignment with the discharge: conveyor 52, the rods`84. forming lingers adapted to intermesh with the teeth `54 so that ifa slab were to be caught on the teeth, it could be freed readilytherefrom.`

The operation of this slab thrower is quite simple. A slab received fromconveyor 36 is carried by the conveyor 34 until such time as it isdirected on to the drum 42 with the end portion thereof falling', onvthe guide plate 74. The teeth 44y will then pull the slab on to theconveyor 52, the rods 84 serving to free the teeth` 44 from the slabshould the teeth bite deeply into the slabs. Then, the conveyor 52 willcarry the slab upwardly untill such time as the teeth 44 can engage thesurface of the slab and impel it outwardly with great force so that theslab which is headed upwardly and outwardly will be thrown aconsiderable distance from the slab thrower. It is to be realized thatthe drum 42 is revolving at a considerable rate. i

The operation of the embodiment of the invention, as is shown in Figure8, is quite similar. After the conveyor 34 has carried the slab, it willpermit the forward end of the slab to fall onto the conveyor 76,depending, of course, upon the length of the slab. Then, the slab hasthe lowermost end thereof carried rearwardly until the slab abutsagainst the transverse guide rod or bar 8S extending betweenthe sides ofthe housing. This will cause the slab to fall over and onto the drum 42upon further movement of the backwardly feeding` guide conveyor 76thereby permitting the teeth 44 of the drum, to lift the slab ontothe'conveyor 52.which then. aids in the carrying of the slab upwardlyand outwardly until the teeth 44 can engage the surface of the slab insuch manner as to properly propel the slab.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of the slabthrower are readily apparent, further description is believed to beunnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specificationand accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention tothe precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modicationsand equivalents may be readily resortedl to which fall into the scope ofthe appended` claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A slab thrower comprising a substantially troughshaped housing havingfeed andl discharge ends andl having an open top, a feed conveyor insaid housing adjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted insaid housing adjacent the discharge end thereof and having a pluralityof teeth attached thereto,y means between said drum and said feedconveyor for receiving a slab from said feed conveyor and delivering theslab to said drum, an angularly upwardly extending alignment anddischarge conveyor positioned' at the discharge end of said housing,said discharge conveyor extending upwardly above said drum, and drivemeans for actuating said dmm, said feed conveyor andk said dischargeconveyor.

2. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges securedto the upper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontallyextending forward feeding endless belt feed conveyor in said housing`adjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in saidhousing adjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality ofteeth attached thereto, an angularly outwardly and forwardly extendingand forwardly and upwardly feeding endless belt alignment p a forwardlyand upwardly extending guide plate PQSitioned to the rear of said drumand below said feed conveyor, and means for actuating said drum, saidfeed conveyor, and said discharge conveyor.

3. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide anges securedto the upper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontallyextending forward` feeding endlessbelt feed conveyor in said. housingadjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housingadjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality of teethattached thereto, an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending andforwardly and upwardly feeding endless belt alignment and dischargeconveyor positioned in front of said drum, a rearwardly feedingsubstantially horizontal slab guiding conveyor positioned behind saiddrum and below said feed conveyor, a guide rod secured to said housingabove said guide conveyor, and means for actuating said drum, said feedconveyor, and said discharge conveyor.

4. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving feed and discharge ends and having an open top,V a feed conveyorin said housing adjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mountedin said housing adjacent the discharge end thereof and having aplurality of teeth attached thereto, an angularly upwardly extendingalignment and discharge conveyor positioned at the discharge end of saidhousing, said discharge conveyor extending upwardly above said drum, anddrive means for actuating said drum, said feed conveyor, and saiddischarge conveyor, a plurality of spaced fingers positioned above saiddrum and in alignment with .said discharge conveyor, said lingersintermeshing with said teeth.

5. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges securedto the upper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontallyextendingA endless belt feed conveyor in said housing adjacent said feedend thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent thedischarge end thereof and having a plurality of teeth attached thereto,

an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending endless belt alignment anddischarge conveyor positioned in front of said drum and extendingupwardly above said drum, and means for actuating said drum, said feedconveyor,

and said discharge conveyor, a plurality of spaced lingers positionedabove said drum and in alignment with said discharge conveyor, saidlingers intermeshing with said teeth.

6. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly' diverging receiving guide flangessecured to the upper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontallyextending forward feeding endless belt feed conveyor in said housingadjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housingadjacent the discharge endv thereof and having a plurality of teethattached thereto, an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending andforwardly and upwardly feeding endless belt alignment and dischargeconveyor positioned in front of said drum, a forwardly and upwardlyextending guide plate positioned to the rear of said drum and below saidfeed conveyor, and means for actuating said drum, said feed conveyor,and said discharge conveyor, a plurality of 4spaced fingers positionedabove said drum and in alignment with said discharge conveyor, s aidfingers intermeshing with said teeth.

7. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges securedto the upper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontallyextending forward feeding endless belt feed conveyor in said housingadjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housingadjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality of teethattached thereto, an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending andforwardly and upwardly feeding endless belt alignment and dischargeconveyor positioned in front of said drum, a rearwardly feedingsubstantially horizontal slab guiding conveyor positioned behind saiddrum and below said feed conveyor, a guide rod secured to said housingabove said guide conveyor, and means for actuating said drum, said feedconveyor, and said discharge conveyor, a plurality of spaced fingerspositioned above said drum and in alignment with said dischargeconveyor, said fingers intermeshing with said teeth.

8. A slab thrower comprising a substantially troughshaped housing havingfeed and discharge ends and having an open top, a feed conveyor in saidhousing adjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in saidhousing adjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality ofteeth attached thereto, means between said drum and said feed conveyorfor receiving a slab from said feed conveyor and delivering the slab tosaid drum, `an angularly upwardly extending alignment and dischargeconveyor positioned at the discharge end of said housing, said dischargeconveyor extending upwardly above said drum, and drive means foractuating said drum, said feed conveyor and said discharge conveyor,said drive means being supported outwardly of said housing.

9. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges securedto the upper parts of said housing, a feed conveyor in said housingadjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housingadjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality of teethattached thereto, an angularly upwardly extending alignment anddischarge conveyor positioned at the discharge end of said housing, saiddischarge conveyor extending upwardly above said drum, and drive meansfor actuating said drum, said feed conveyor, and said dischargeconveyor, said drive means being supported outwardly of said housing, aplurality of spaced fingers positioned above said drum and in alignmentwith said discharge conveyor, said ngers intermeshing with said teeth.

10. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges securedto the upper parts of said housing, -a substantially horizontallyextending forward feeding endless belt feed conveyor in said housingadjacent said feed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housingadjacent the discharge end thereof and having a plurality of teethattached thereto, an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending andforwardly and upwardly feeding endless belt alignment and dischargeconveyor positioned in front of said drum, a forwardly and upwardlyextending guide plate positioned to the rear of said `drum and belowsaid feed conveyor, and means for actuating said drum, said feedconveyor, and said discharge conveyor, said drive means being supportedoutwardly of said housing.

11. A slab thrower comprising a substantially trough shaped housinghaving rear feed and forward discharge ends and having an open top, apair of outwardly and upwardly diverging receiving guide flanges to theupper parts of said housing, a substantially horizontally extendingforward feeding endless belt feed conveyor in said housing adjacent saidfeed end thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent thedischarge end thereof and having a plurality of teeth attached thereto,an angularly upwardly and forwardly extending and forwardly and upwardlyfeeding endless belt alignment and discharge conveyor positioned infront of said drum, a rearwardly feeding substantially horizontal sl-abguiding conveyor positioned behind said drum and below said feedconveyor, a guide rod secured to said housing above said guide conveyor,and means for actuating said drum, said feed conveyor, and saiddischarge conveyor, said drive means being supported outwardly of saidhousing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,041,756Edison Oct. 22, 1912 1,545,409 Eddins July 7, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS205,409 Germany Mar. 8, 1908

